Design Pick of the Week: Thirsty Moose Taphouse

No mistaking what services are offered at the establishment whose logo is my fourth Design Pick of the Week!

Even if you can’t make out the logo’s text on your smartphone screen, the beer pint you see here can’t represent anything other than a good ol’ boys brewpub. Throw in the antlers, and you know for sure that the Thirsty Moose Taphouse isn’t some fancy city bar!
The logo is playful, so I can tell immediately that the atmosphere at the Thirsty Moose Taphouse is open, warm, and friendly. I know I could grab a bunch of friends to hang out at the Thirsty Moose and just enjoy each other’s company for a while. And the use of the foam spilling over the glass adds a dynamic element to the design. “Thirsty moose? Thirsty customer? We’re pouring right now!” this image says.
The designer’s use of the words “Thirsty Moose” to create the actual pint is a clever way of underscoring the core of the company’s business – 160 tap lines and 116 brews to choose from – while emphasizing its fun environment. You wouldn’t catch a law firm or accountants office using the same creativity in its logo, nor should you.

We’ve come across some similarly clever logo concepts for other New Hampshire businesses in just the first month of doing these weekly Design Picks. Unfortunately, some of the cleverest ideas were poorly executed – probably by someone who has neither the innate skills or the requisite design experience to pull off the concept. Perhaps the business owner himself, or a relative? That’s often the case with small-business owners trying to do it all.

It reminds me of the day I decided I needed an accountant to handle that end of things for me. This was many years ago when I was first starting Infusion Studio. Yes, I keep my files very organized and I can balance my checkbook. But can I really execute this task as it should be done for a rapidly growing business? And would I rather be doing the accounts or spending my (limited) free time with my family? You can guess the answer. Outsourcing can be a very good thing!

So, my take-away lesson for this week’s Design Pick is this: If you have a growing business and a great logo idea, bring in an experienced designer to make your concept reality! Infusion Studio – and any other firm like ours that wants to see fellow small-business owners grow – will understand that when you say all you need/can afford right now is a logo, that you really do mean it.

After all, getting just the right look to launch your business to the next level is something everyone can raise a glass to.